Rough ride back to Marina

L

Larry Patrick

New member
Just fished Lake Erie for a few days ,getting better at catching walleye there. Last fish was biggest yet,guessing 10lbs. Had it in net it got back out,then next try it got bumped off while netting. Realize should have a longer net handle. Really bummed out when it was so close to boating. Then weather got worse quite quickly,even though we checked an hour before at closest buoy. Waves and wind picked up big time. The rear bilge kept going off last 15 minutes of fishing,we were keeping it in neutral and still trolling at 1.6 mph,sizeable waves .After losing that fish I guess I stayed longer than I should. Turned it back into the waves and slowly headed for marina 10 miles away. Boat handled everything nicely. Wouldn't want to be in an open boat at that time. Guess even when you watch and check windfinder ect ,things can change quickly.
 
Great Lakes weather is notorious for fast changes towards nasty, especially Erie
which is shallow compared to others. Newbies, and others, often get hammered.

Often severe areas will not coincide with general "fair" marine forecasts due to
local effects. Never rely on local city forecasting which often underestimates
upcoming conditions; always use marine forecasts, follow trends, watch your
radar, barometer, and your behind. Then, keep your guard up and have a back
up plan.

Aye.

Grandpa (an old Navy man) used to say, "The sea merely waits for the innocent
but actually stalks the unprepared, the foolish and the arrogant."
 
Limit is 6 a day for walleye, caught 5 in a few days. Last year they tell me people were limiting out almost daily. Also perch fishing was great last year,this year poor . They have an algae problem in areas.Some are saying freshwater shrimp are keeping perch full,not even sure what they are will be looking them up. Talked to Wolverine Marina owners they tow for Boat U.S. They gave me a lesson on the winds and how it funnels with the shape at this end of lake. Saying that the weather can get bad quickly and create confused waves from wind and depths of lake ect .They said that's why there are so many ship wrecks in the past .Wife said this was the roughest weather we have expierenced yet. Last Jan in Gulf near Appalacachola we went out in some decent size waves,between Dog Island and St George Island,but they were more time between them .When we thought we should head back in ,it wasn't long before we were back in bay and calmer waters. That 10 mile ride was rough the whole way in had to use wipers and keep side windows and front closed from water splash. Said I was in neutral ,but wife was driving while I was fishing,engine may have been in forward but hardly engaged just enough to steer. First day of fishing where we didn't have to keep bumping it in and out of gear which was great.
 
Lake Erie's shallowness heavy, unpredictable wind, and way east in Buffalo (where I'm from) pretty decent current as it drains into the Niagra River. I have ancestors on the bottom of that lake. Growing up on those waters, I learned a lot about respecting the water, and when I got to other places that had bigger, badder reputations I found myself well prepared.

Lake Erie is the only water body besides the parts of Prince William Sound I use that gets those big waves that stack up like chop. It can be very uncomfortable, and very difficult to control your boat as bow and stern are rapidly switching elevations, and in those short spaced waves your boat gets urged to turn, especially in following seas. I feel like that is the biggest challenge for CDories: running in big, short interval chop wave following seas.

At least you have a good boat!
 
Following seas, lower Columbia River, same hazard, particularly running upriver when the ebb is honking against a west wind. Short period, steep waves, broach city.
 
Kushtaka very informed post,well explained. Learning to be very cautious there. Leaving tomorrow to fish there again. Those big walleye, are calling. Gotta get my fill of fishing in before season end. Was busy working all season now trying to make up for lost trips out on boat.
 
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